Welsh education plan ‘falls short’

A Welsh assembly government initiative to improve educational support for looked-after children does not go far enough, campaigners have warned.

Last week, the assembly government said it would give councils £3m over three years through its Raise programme to improve support for children in years 10 and 11, particularly when approaching exams.

A spokesperson for the Welsh children’s commissioner’s office welcomed the money but said targeting it only on years 10 and 11  “may not tackle the underlying problems”.

Mike Lewis, policy director at Children in Wales, said that extra support was needed during transitions from primary to secondary education and from school into work.